Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
Central Counties of Missouri
By Kelly Warman-Stallings
Published to WTTP on 24 October 2025
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Missouri has 114 counties, and its history dates back to the Louisiana Purchase in 1812, when the first general assembly established five counties from the Missouri Territory: Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, and Ste. Genevieve. Most of the state’s later counties were formed from these original five. Between 1818 and 1845, the Central Missouri counties began to take shape.
Missouri features 10 large counties, with five of them located in the Central Missouri region. Among these, Callaway County ranks 4th largest at 847 square miles, followed by Camden at 7th with 655 square miles, Laclede at 8th with 768 square miles, Phelps at 9th with 674 square miles, and Boone at 10th with 692 square miles.
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ABOUT THE REGION
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The Central Region consists of 19 counties, featuring a mix of rolling hills, fertile river valleys, and terrain that transitions between the flat northern plains and the Ozark Mountains to the south. Major rivers like the Missouri and Osage shape the region’s landscape. This area also includes the Missouri River's "Little Dixie," a historically significant region known for its rich, fertile land along the river.
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Most Central Missouri counties are named after politicians, war heroes, or natural resources. The state capital, Jefferson City, is located in Cole County and serves as the seat of Missouri's state government. While county officials differ by location, common roles include Presiding Commissioner, County Clerk, Sheriff, Assessor, Auditor, Collector, Prosecuting Attorney, and Recorder of Deeds.​
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The largest populated cities in the Central Region are Columbia (130,900), Jefferson City (42,564) Rolla (20,660), Lebanon (15,538), Ft. Leonardwood (15,317), Fulton (12,000), Mexico (11,482), and Boonville (7,863).
In 2023, the region had a per capita personal income of $50,714 and an estimated population of 703,053. By 2024, the average annual wage for all occupations in the Central Region was $53,967.
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The population figures shown in the charts are based on the 2024 Census estimate. The data indicates that Missouri's population is estimated at 6,245,466, reflecting a 1.5% increase since 2020.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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County
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Audrain
Boone
Callaway
Camden
Cole
Cooper
Crawford
Dent
Gasconade
Howard
Laclede
Maries
Miller
Moniteau
Morgan
Osage
Phelps
Pulaski
Washington
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County Seat
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Mexico
Columbia
Fulton
Camdenton
Jefferson City
Booneville
Steelville
Salem
Hermann
Fayette
Lebanon
Vienna
Tuscumbia
California
Versailles
Linn
Rolla
Waynesville
Potosi
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Formed
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1831​
1820
1821
1841
1820
1818
1829
1851
1821
1816
1849
1855
1837
1845
1833
1841
1857
1833
1813
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County Formed from
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​Callaway, Monroe & Ralls
Howard
Boone, Howard & Montgomery
Benton, Morgan & Pulaski
Cooper
Howard
Gasconade
Crawford & Shannon
Franklin
St. Charles & St. Louis
Camden, Laclede & Wright
Osage & Pulaski
Cole & Pulaski
Cole & Morgan
Cooper
Gasconade
Crawford
Crawford
Sainte Genevieve
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Population
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24,304
192,154
45,126
44,135
77,625
17,122
22,808
14,721
14,655
10,150
36,738
8,506
25,668
15,294
22,399
13,478
45,672
53,964
23,583
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Area (Sq. Mi.)
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693
685
839
655
392
565
743
754
520
466
766
528
592
417
598
606
673
547
760
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County
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Audrain
Boone
Callaway
Camden
Cole
Cooper
Crawford
Dent
Gasconade
Howard
Laclede
Maries
Miller
Moniteau
Morgan
Osage
Phelps
Pulaski
Washington
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Named for:
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James Hunter Audrain (1781-1831); Colonel of Militia, War of 1812; elected MO State Legislator (1830).
Daniel Boone (1734–1820); American pioneer; moved to St. Charles County, Missouri in 1799.
James Callaway (1783–1815); soldier, War of 1812; grandson of Daniel Boone; MO State Legislator (1830).
​Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794); English lawyer and judge; Whig politician.
Stephen Cole (1760-1839); Captain, War of 1812; pioneering settler; erected Cole's Fort in Cooper County.
Sarshel Benjamin Cooper (1762-1814); Captain, War of 1812; pioneering settler; died in Howard County.
William H. Crawford (1772–1834); U.S. Senator from Georgia, U.S. Secretary of Treasury, and judge.
James Dent (1810-1880); pioneering settler; State Representative (1858); arrived in Missouri in 1835.
Gasconade River; tributary of the Missouri River; the river flows through seven Central Missouri counties.
Benjamin Howard (1760–1814); Brigadier General, War of 1812; Governor of Missouri Territory.
Pierre Laclede (1729–1778); fur trader; founder of St. Louis, Missouri (1764); arrived in Missouri in 1760s.
Maries River; tributary of the Osage River; the river flows through three Central Missouri counties.
John Miller (1781–1846); politician; Governor of Missouri and represented Missouri in the U.S. House.
Moniteau Creek; tributary of the Missouri River; the river flows through three Central Missouri counties.
Daniel Morgan (1736–1802); soldier, Revolutionary War; United States Representative from Virginia.
Osage River; tributary of the Missouri River; the river flows through five Central Missouri counties.
John S. Phelps (1814–1886); soldier, American Civil War; politician, Governor of Missouri.
Kazimierz Pulaski (1745–1779); Polish soldier, American Revolutionary War; general in Continental Army.
George Washington (1732–1799); General, Continental Army, Revolutionary War; President of the USA.
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County​
Audrain
Boone
Callaway
Camden
Cole
Cooper
Crawford
Dent
Gasconade
Howard
Laclede
Maries
Miller
Moniteau
Morgan
Osage
Phelps
Pulaski
Washington​
Notable Landmarks
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County Courthouse; Graceland Museum (Ross House); American Saddlebred Horse Museum.
Francis Quadrangle on University of Missouri campus; Rock Ridge State Park; Missouri Theatre.
America's National Churchill Museum; Fulton Historic District; Cote Sans Dessein Archeological Site.
Lake of the Ozarks; Lake of the Ozarks State Park; Ha Ha Tonka State Park; Bridal Cave; Ozarks Amphitheater.
Missouri State Capital; Missouri State Penitentiary; Governor's Mansion; Jefferson Landing Historic Site.
County Courthouse; Arrow Rock State Historic Site; Cooper County WW1 Memorial; Katy Trail in Boonville.
Meramec State Park; Onondaga Cave State Park; Fugitive Beach; Cuba Murals; Dillard Mill Historic Site.
County Courthouse; Montauk State Park; Historic Salem general stores; White River Trace Conservation Area.
County Courthouse; Hermann Historic District; Gasconade River; Pennie Petrolyph Archeological Site.
Boonslick State Historic Site; Finks-Harvey Plantation near Roanoke; Historic Inglewood House in Glasgow.
Bennett Spring State Park; Route 66 Museum; Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge; Historic John Pershing Home.
County Courthouse; Old Grist Mill in Vichy; Indian Ford Bridge on Gasconade River; Old Jail Museum (Vienna).
​Lake of the Ozarks; Lake of the Ozarks State Park; Bagnell Dam; Historic Auglaize Bridge near Brumley.
Historic County Courthouse Square; Finke Opera House; McClay Mansion; Geiger Archeological Site.
County Courthouse; Jacob's Cave; Old St. Patrick's Church near Gravois Mills; Martin Hotel Museum.
Courthouse; Osage County Poorhouse; Bonnots Mill Historic District; Townley House Museum in Chamois.
Meramec Iron Works District near St. James; Historic Route 66; Gourd Creek Cave Archaeological Site.
County Courthouse; Historic Route 66; Trail of Tears National Historic Trail; Devil's Elbow Bridge.
Washington State Park; Mark Twain National Forest; Historic Downtown Caledonia; Spring Lake Ranch.
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